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Give toMarsh Regional Blood Center |
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Oldest (1983 model) of the current Marsh Bloodmobiles |
The staff at Marsh Regional Blood Center does everything they can to overcome any fears a donor may have so that their experience is a rewarding one. To make donating as convenient as possible, Marsh utilizes three “bloodmobiles” that are driven throughout northeast Tennessee and southwest Virginia. Unfortunately the mobile units currently in use are 16-20 years old and together the three must travel over 168,000 miles each year! New mobile units cost $250,000 each and the Blood Center would like to begin replacing them one at a time. Careful management of the Blood Center allows them to break-even despite uncontrollable factors such as indigent care and below-cost reimbursements, but vehicle maintenance has gone through the roof and there isn’t funding to purchase new mobile units any time soon. Your gift to Marsh Regional Blood Center will help assure the patients of our region will continue to have an adequate supply of blood.
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2nd oldest of the current Marsh Bloodmobiles (This picture was taken at the repair shop - where it spends much of its time) |
Give online to Marsh Regional Blood Center for a New Bloodmobile
About Marsh Regional Blood Center
You may be well aware that the demand for blood constantly outpaces supply but you may not realize that only 5% of eligible blood donors take the time to give. Marsh Regional Blood Center (MRBC) collects, tests, stores and distributes approximately 25,000 units of blood and blood products annually to sixteen regional hospitals. They are the sole supplier of blood to the majority of hospitals throughout northeast Tennessee and southwest Virginia. MRBC is accredited by the American Association of Blood Banks (AABB), and is a federally inspected and independent regional blood center providing the following services to the region:
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Sample of a new Bloodmobile! |
- Whole Blood & Platelet Collection
- Testing & Banking Facilities
- Local Donor Collection Sites
- Mobile Blood Collection Units
Visit the Marsh Regional Blood Center web page
Give online to Marsh Regional Blood Center for a New Bloodmobile
Help Raise Money for a New Bloodmobile - Ask a Friend!
Having an adequate blood supply is something that most people don't think about much - until a loved one or friend suddenly needs multiple units of blood due to trauma, surgery, or illness. They are very grateful of their unknown blood donors who made a difference in their lives. But there is only one way to obtain blood products - by people taking the time to donate it. This Bloodmobile is a critical tool for collecting blood donations and ensuring we always have an adequate supply of blood products when they are needed. No one understands the need more than a blood donor or those benefitted from blood donations. If you are reading this, then you understand the need for a Bloodmobile more than anyone else and that's why we need your help to raise the money!
The best way to help raise money is to tell your friends, family, and acquaintances about the Bloodmobile campaign and - most importantly - WHY IT IS IMPORTANT TO YOU. Your relationship and belief in the project will convince others to make a donation! And while your story will persuade them, they will also need the information for how to make their gift.
Below are a couple of tools you may want to use to help you Ask a Friend. The first is a link to an "Ask a Friend" form which you can print, sign/write a personal note, and either give to or mail to your friends and family. The other is a paragraph of suggested text which you can copy and paste into an Ask a Friend e-mail which will link them to this page for them to make a donation (online and printable forms are available at the top of this web page).
Suggested E-Mail Text (for you to select, copy, and paste into your e-mail if you wish)
Subject: Bloodmobile Fundraising CampaignYou may or may not realize that I am a blood donor at the Marsh Regional Blood Center. The blood I give is used for cardiac, cancer, and trauma patients throughout northeast Tennessee and southwest Virginia. In order to meet the ever increasing demand for blood in the region, Marsh reaches out to blood donors through the use of three mobile blood collection units often referred to as “Bloodmobiles.” Each year these units travel over 168,000 miles to help collect the 25,000 units required each year. Unfortunately all of Marsh Blood Center’s mobile units are approaching or long past their useful lives and need to be replaced in order to continue serving the region.
I am sending you this note today to ask for your support. We are trying to raise $250,000 to purchase one new bloodmobile this year. Many people don’t realize how important blood donations are until they or their loved ones need blood, but I personally believe in this cause and am asking you to consider your own contribution.
Will you please consider making a donation to Wellmont Foundation’s Marsh Regional Blood Center Fund to help purchase a new bloodmobile?
You can make your donation by going to Wellmont Foundation's Bloodmobile Fund web page at:
www.WellmontFoundation.org/bloodmobile
That site has more information about Marsh and the Bloodmobile, an online donation form, and a printable donation form you can fill out and mail if you like. Or you can simply send a check to:Wellmont Foundation
Marsh Bloodmobile Fund
P.O. Box 1069
Kingsport, TN 37662
Becoming a Blood Donor
Marsh Regional Blood Center collects whole blood and platelets, both of which are essential for patients being treated for diseases such as cancer and leukemia, as well as accident victims and those undergoing surgery.
Donating blood is quick, easy and safe. An average visit to one of Marsh’s donor centers lasts around 30 minutes, with the actual donation taking only 8 to 10 minutes to complete. Blood bags and needles are completely sterile and used only once. It is, therefore, impossible to contract any disease from giving blood. Prior to donating, a mini-physical is performed to further safeguard both the donor and the recipient.